Unifor

Unifor is a general trade union in Canada and the largest private sector union in Canada. It was founded in 2013 as a merger of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions, and consists of 310,000 workers and associate members in industries ranging from manufacturing and media to forestry and fishing.[1] In January 2018, the union left the Canadian Labour Congress, Canada's national trade union centre, to become independent.[2]

Unifor
Founded2013 (2013)
Members310,000
AffiliationIMF, ITF, IFJ
Key peopleJerry Dias (President)
Office location205 Placer Court, Toronto, Ontario
CountryCanada
Websitewww.unifor.org

The union elected Jerry Dias, a former union leader at de Havilland's facility in Downsview, as its first president on August 31, 2013.[3]

Split from Canadian Labour Congress

On January 16, 2018, the National Executive Board of Unifor decided unanimously to discontinue affiliation with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and become independent. In a notice posted on their website, they stated their reasons for the split were due to CLC and its affiliates lack of action and will in addressing alleged aggressive and undemocratic tactics of US-based unions towards Canadian locals.[4] The CLC accused Unifor of leaving the congress in order to engage in "raiding" (soliciting members of another union) following an announcement that UNITE HERE Local 75 in Toronto would leave UNITE HERE and join Unifor.[5] CAW, one of Unifor's predecessors, had previously been expelled from the CLC in 1998 due to accusations of raiding.

Local 1285

Unifor Local 1285
FoundedMay 12, 1961
Members7242 (Sept. 2008)
Head unionUnifor
Office location23 Regan Road, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, L7A-1B2, 905.451.8310
CountryCanada
Websiteuniforlocal1285.ca

Unifor Local 1285 (formerly Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285) is an amalgamated local representing automotive workers in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest private sector union local in Brampton.

In February 2019, Unifor purchased time on the Canadian broadcast of Super Bowl LIII to broadcast a commercial protesting General Motors' decision to close the Oshawa Car Assembly plant. On the Friday before the game, Unifor received a letter from GM Canada demanding that the commercial, and an online advert boycotting Mexican-manufactured GM vehicles, be pulled, alleging they were "designed intentionally and maliciously to mislead Canadian consumers and forever tarnish GM's reputation with them". In defiance of the demands, the ad aired as scheduled, and Unifor intends to air the ad during other major events.[6][7]

Saskatchewan Crown Corporations

Most of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Crown Corporations employ Unifor members.

On September 30, 2019, approximately 5,000 Unifor members from all of the above locals began a work-to-rule campaign after failing to negotiate new contracts with the provincial government. By October 4, the job action had escalated into a strike, as all of those workers walked off the job and began picketing, with the exception of those workers working essential roles such as 911 operators, power outage dispatchers, and natural gas leak responders.[12][13]

References
  1. "'Unifor' will be name of new super union that combines CAW and CEP". Toronto Star. May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  2. "Unifor breaks with Canadian Labour Congress". CBC. Canadian Press. January 17, 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  3. He politically supports the liberal party of Canada and is a vocal proponent of Justin Trudeau and a staunch critic of opposition leader Andrew sheer "New super-union Unifor’s first president vows to start pushing back if governments, employers don’t heed.". Toronto Star, August 31, 2013.
  4. "Notice to Members on Unifor's Disaffiliation from the Canadian Labour Congress". Unifor. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  5. "CLC accuses Unifor of leaving lobby group to raid another union". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  6. "GM trying to 'intimidate' union from airing Super Bowl ad, Unifor says". CBC News. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
  7. "Unifor airs Super Bowl ad despite GM's cease and desist letter". CBC News. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  8. "1-S". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  9. "2-S". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  10. "649". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  11. "820". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  12. Atter, Heidi (October 11, 2019). "Striking Crown workers and their supporters hold rally, march through downtown Regina". CBC News. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  13. "Impasse reached, Unifor set to strike against Saskatchewan Crowns". Global News. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
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